Symonds' lucky return to cricket due to Hopes' injury

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Published: Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 12:58 [IST]

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Sydney, Nov 12 : Andrew Symonds was not originally on the selectors' minds for Friday's exhibition Twenty20 match against an All Stars team at the Gabba. However, he proved extremely lucky to be playing as James Hopes, who was preferred over Symonds, was struggling with a chest injury and would not have been fit.

Symonds has been out of the Aussie team for a few months now, after he went for fishing instead of attending an important meting during the last West Indies tour.

According to the Herald Sun, because Symonds was not originally at the forefront of selectors' thoughts is an "indication that they are unlikely to rush him back into the Test arena" against New Zealand at the Gabba next week.

Scoring just 80 runs at an average of 13.33 in three Sheffield Shield games, Symonds' poor form in state cricket this season means that he has little chance of dislodging Shane Watson from the Australian team for next week's first Test.

Watson is one of the few Australians whose stocks have been boosted from the Indian tour where he took 10 wickets at 32.1 and confirmed himself as an all-rounder of international potential.

Shaun Tait also returns to the side for the first time since his withdrawal from cricket last summer. Adam Gilchrist will captain the All Stars team.